Background: Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of a wide variety of solid tumors .The major side effects limiting its clinical use is the nephrotoxicity.
The aim of this work: was to study the possible protective effects of vitamins C and E on Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult albino rats.
Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were divided into three equal groups: The control group, Cisplatin group and Cisplatin plus vitamins C and E group .In the control group ,the rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2ml of normal saline /kg .B. W. once daily for 3 consecutive days. In Cisplatin group , the rats were injected intraperitoneally with Cisplatin at dose of 10mg /kg .B.W. once daily for 3 consecutive days. In Cisplatin plus vitamins group, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with Cisplatin as the second group ,in addition to vitamins C and E at dose of 250mg/kg .B.W .each. The vitamins were administrated orally with a cannula one hour prior to Cisplatin injection. All animals were sacrificed 3 days after the last injection .The kidney specimens were prepared for light and electron microscopies.
Results: Cisplatin produced necrosis of the epithelial lining of most of the proximal convoluted tubules with subsequent dilatations of their lumens .Some of these tubules contained esinophilic material .The epithelial cells of some tubules contained many vacuoles .The Cisplatin induced focal condensation of the connective tissue and inflammatory cells in the interstitial spaces. Electron microscopic examination showed that Cisplatin produced reduction in the numbers of mitochondria and the microvilli with increase the numbers of lysosomes ,vacuoles and vesicles. Cisplatin obliterated the pores in the glomerular endothelium and in between the foot processes of the podocytes. Administration of vitamins C and E during the Cisplatin injection reduced the pathological changes induced by Cisplatin. The severity of these changes in the tubules and the glomeruli were less than those in the Cisplatin group.
Conclusion: The toxic effects of Cisplatin on the kidney was minimized by administration of combination of vitamins C and E . |